Steam generation and utilization.



'H C. MALLORY.

STEAM GENERATION AND UTIUZATION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 6. 1907. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1911.

Patented Aug, 14, 1917.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET I- %i in used M WM H. c. MALLORY.

. STEAM GENERATION AND UTILIZATION. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. I90]-RTINEWED JAN. I0, 1911-- 4; Patented Aug. 14,1917."

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I Q'xmmm V I I QM attorney Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anpzufoz UNITED STATES PATENT curios- -I-IARRY G. MALLORY,

or NEW YORK, 1\T.Y.

STEAM GENERATION Ann UTILIZATION.

Patented Aug. 14;, 1917.

Application filed September 6, 1907, Serial No. 391,581 Renewed January10,- 1917. Serial No. 141,696.

To all whom it may concern Be'it known that LIIARRY GIVIALLORY, a

. citizen of the United States of America reflash boiler or semi-flashboiler type, is automatically regulated in accordance with the demandfor steam whether the latter be used for power or heating purposes, and

An advantageous utilization of this automatically regulated steamgenerator In a heating system in which the steam flow through theradiator is varied to vary the heating effect of the radiators, thesystem being so arranged that the steam'supplied to the radiators isreturned to the steam generator in the form of water of condensation. I

i In carrying out my invention, I have de-' vised an apparatus in which.the valve which regulates the flow of the fluid fuel to the burner orburners of the steam generator is controlled by thermostatic mechanismwhich issubjected on the one hand. to the cooling action of the waterfed to the boiler to be converted into steam and on the other hand tothe heatingaction of some source of heat of a temperature which isrelatively constant and materially higher than that of the Water ofcondensation, thus obtaining a range of temperature to which thethermostatic mechanism is subjected which is suflici'ent to make theaction of the latter positive and of sufficient extent to give thedesired re ulation.

By preference, I utilize the piIot burner employed to start the mainburner when fuel begins to flow to it after a temporary cessationas thesource of the heat of high temerature;

The supply of water to the boiler I may regulate by means of a valve orthe like actuated or controlled by the steam pressure in the steammainfr'om the boiler, and in one form of my invention I have providedfor a regulation which insures that the steam When my new steamgenerator is employed in a heating system in which the escape of waterof condensation from the radiators is automatically controlled in orderto govern the heating effect of the radiator I may arrange for a directreturn of the water of condensation to the boiler, as by gravity flow.In this case the water of condensation forms a direct measure of thesteam consumption and of the steam generated and automatically controlsthe supply of heat for its conversion into steam. I

The various features of novelty which characterize, my invention I haveaimed to point out particularly in the claims annexed to and forming apartof this specification. For a better understanding of my invention,however, and the advantages possessed by it reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustratedand described several forms of apparatus in which my invention may beembodied.

Of the drawings,

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation, partly in section,showing a steam generator and automatic fuel controlling mechanismtherefor and one means for regulating the flow of water to saidgenerator in order to maintain the steam pressure at the desired point.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a device which may be used with theapparatus shown in Fig. 1 when it is desired to regulate the degree ofsuperheat'as well as the pressure Fig. 5 is a diagrammaticrepresentation.

of a heating system'in which the apparatus of Fig. 1 is utilized, and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a heating system differingsomewhat from that shown in Fig. 5, and in whichalsothe steam generatorproper. of Fig. 1 is utilized.-

In the drawings, and referring first to the. construction shown in Fig.1, A is the steam v generator, which may be any of the well known formsof flash or semi-flash boilers, and, as shown, comprises heating cells Ato the upper end of which water is supplied pipe A.

which the chimney or pipe A. leads.

Secured to the side of the casingA is the tubular casing member B of thethermostatic.

fuel control mechanism. The member B has secured to its upper end achambered member B and to its lower end a valve casing C. The valvecasing C is provided with a partition C which divides the fuel chamber Cfrom the water chamber C The fuel passes into the fuel chamber C fromthe fuel supply reservoir E through the pipes E and C, and the valveseated port C formed in the member G which is detacha'bly connected toand forms a part of the valve casing. The flow of fuel, which may begasolene, gas or other fluid fuel, from the fuel supply reservoir E intothe fuel chamber C is controlled by the valve D which is adapted toseat.on the member C and close the port C. From the fuel chamber thefuel pames through the pipe A to the main fuel burner A which serves asthe source of .heat for converting into steam the water fed into theheating coils A. A branch pipe E connected to the pipe E supplies fuelto the pilot burner A, which may be of the usual type employed with a'main burner, whenever the fuel supply to the latter is interrupted fromtime to time.

The valve D is carried by and may form the lower end of a hollow memberB which passes through a stuffing box C formed in the partition C, andis adjustably secured at its upper end to the casing or chambered memberB In the form shown the upper end of the rod B is threaded and screwsinto nut B which normally rests on a boss B extendingfupward from thelower wall of the chamber in the -casing..B". A dowel pin B secured inthe boss B prevents rotation of tlfe nut 13 ,011 its seat when it isdesired to rotate the member B in it, in order to adjust the latteraxially, while at the same time this arrangement allows pipe A up thenut to rise from its seat in case of expansion of the rod B occurringafter the valve D is seated. A spring C a'cting'between a collar C on;the rod B? and a stationary bushingC urges the rod B at-all times in thedirection to seat the valve D;

The rod B is surrounded by a' tubular shell B, which extends betweenthecasings C and B, and the space 13 between the rod B and the member Bforms a. channel for conveying the water fed .into the water chamber Cof the casing C from the supply he chamber in the member 8, from whenceitpasses through the pipe A to the coils A. :Ports B arefo 'fmed in 'theboss B through which the water may pass into the chamber'in membenB; As

'heat the member B, and

through which it escapes to the upper end of the casing A The member B,which serves to positively connect the chambered member B and the valvecasing C, is formed of material having a relatively low'co-efiicient ofthermal expansion, while the rod B which forms the expanding member ofthe thermostatic. mechanism, is formed of some material having arelatively high co-efticient of thermal expansion.

When the apparatus just described is in operation, the hot gases frpmthe burner A hus by radiation and conduction through the water in thespace B between the member B and the rod B tends to heat the latter.When the water in the space B is stationary, the heating action of themember B on the rod B is sufficient to cause the latter to expand andmove the valve D onto its seat, thus cutting oil the supply of fuel tothe burner A hen, on the other hand, the conditions are such that wateris flowing through the space B into the heating coils of the steamgenerator, the temperature of the rod B will be-more or less lowered bysuch water, with a consequent contraction of the member B The amount ofthis contraction will depend of course upon the rate of How, and to someextent thetemperature of the water through the space B. In practice, thetemperature 0f.tl1e"water passing-through the space B in any giveninstallation will not vary appreciably, and the variation will not "besufiicient to affect the regulation of the parts after having once beenadjusted for the average Water temperature. The valve D is a throttlingvalve arranged to .regulate the flow of the fuel in accordance with thedegree of contraction or expansion of the mem- 'ber B so that the fuelsupply to the burner A will' at all times vary in substantial accordancewith the amount of water fed to the coils A. It should be understoodthat the parts are proportioned and adjusted so that the fuel'fed to theburner A is at all,

supplied with steam from the main steam 0 generator.

supply pipe A through the pipe A, and exhausts steam through the pipe F.The pump draws water from a suitable source through the pipes F and Fand discharges water through the pipe F which is connected to pipe ABetween pipes F" and F is located a by-pass valve J, which has its inletand outlet ports-d and J separated by interior valve seated ports J andJ which are controlled by the substantially balanced valve J The stem Jof the valve J 5 is connected .to a diaphragm J and is acted upon in thedirection to hold the valve J in the closed position by a spring J, andin the opposite direction to open the ports J and J and connect thepipes F andF by steam admitted to the pressure chamber J through thepipe A running from the main steam pipe A. In the pipe A is located avalve exceed that in the pipe A but upon a predetermined excessotprcssure in pipe F over that in the pipe A" the valve K is moved offits seat.

In consequence of this arrangement, when the steam pressure in the pipeA is below a predetermined value the spring J moves the by-pass valvemember J into position to close the ports J and J, and the water drawninto the pump F through the pipes F and F is discharged from the pumpthrough the pipes F" and A into the water chamber C of the casing C,through which it passes as before described into the heatingcoils A andis vaporized, thus raising the steam pressure. When, however, the

steam pressure in the pipe A exceeds a pre determined value the pressurein the chamber J against the diaphragm J is sufficient steam consumptionis a fraction only of the maximum capacity of the generator the valve Jis neither shut tight nor Wide open but is open to an extent sufficientto permit the desired amount of water to pass to the In the modificationof the apparatus of F ig. 1" shown in Fig. 2, a thermostaticallycontrolled valve N is located -inthe-pipe A of the by-pass valvecontrolling mechanism. The actuating mechanism for the its inner end anon-expanding member N,

above a redeteimined amount, and is closed when the temperature is belowa predetermined amount. In consequence, the by-pass is opened only whenthe pressure in the pipe A exceeds a predetermined minimum, and

also only when the temperature of the steam exceeds a predeterminedminimum. By a suitable proportion of the parts this arrangement'can bemade to insure that the temperature of the steam shall at all times benot less than that corresponding to any de: sired degree of superheat.The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is suitablefor use generally wherethere is a variable demand for steam. In particular it is adapted foruse in connection with steam automobiles and in steam heating systems.

In Fig. 5,the apparatus of Fig. 1 is shown in use in a heating systememploying oneor more heat radiating devices or radiators L for heatingapartments or the like. By

in which the heating effect is regulated by controlling; theaccumulation of water of condensation in them, as in my prior-Patent No.v'2,76o,and in whichthe escape of. the

water ofconde'nsation is automatically conpreference these radiators areof the type trolled by a thermostatically actuated valve mechanism L asin my prior Patent No, 851,363. In the system shown in Fig. 5, eachthermally actuated valve L hasits outlet pipe L connected to a pipe Irunning-g to thevacuum or low pressure pump 1. The operation of thethermostatic valve L as in my said Patent No. 851,363, may be controlledjointly through the heating action of the adjacent radiator and thecooling action of the stream of air drawn through the valve mechanism- Linto the pipe L and varied in amount by the pilot thermostatic valve LThe pump-I discharges through a pipe I into the receiving tank H, fromwhich water is drawn bythe steam pump F through the pipe F pipe I andvalve 1 to a. condenser G so that the pump I may pump air from thecondenser when necessary. The receiving tank H is provided with an'airescape vent The pipe I is connected by a H, and tank H is also connectedto the condenser G through pipe G and valveG so i that water may flowfrom the condenser into the receiving tank. The steam pump I is 3operated by steam supplied from the main steam exhaust pipe I of thepump is con-' nected to the steam supply pipe L of the radiator, as is.also steam'exhaust pipe F of the steam pump F. The pipe. F and valve Fform a connection between the denser G to permit any excess of steamfrom the pipes F and I over that required by the radiators to pass into'the condenser. It will thus be observed that the radiator L is suppliedwith steam from the exhaust pipes of the pumps F and I. .Any excess ofsteam required by the radiators over that fur nished by the exhaustpipes may be supplied through the pipe connection A between the pipe Land the main steam pipe A The pipe connection A. includes a pressurereducing valve A which is arranged to reduce the high pressure steam inthe main steam pipe A to the dcs d value for use in the heating system.Where the steam generated by the boiler A is intended to be utilizedinthe heating system proper, practically all of the steam generated bythe boiler is returned to it through the tank H, but where the steampipe A supplies steam to other steam consuming devices this may not bethe case. If the other steam consuming devices are connected tocondensers the Water of condensation may be returned to the reservoir Hthrough the valved connection H In any event, the usual provision shouldbe made for supplying water to the system to compensate for theunavoidable losses through leaky fittings and the like.

In the heating system shown in Fig. 6, the

A so that the water will flow from thereceiving tank H directly into thepipe A passing from thence into the steam generator A. In this system itwill be understood that the steam pressure is relatively small and willnot exceed the difference in water head between the casing B and thereceiving tank H while in the apparatus of Figs. land 5 the steampressure generated by the boiler may be high, say four hundred or fivehundred or more pounds per square inch.

The heating system shown in Fig. 6 is much simpler than that shown inFig. 5,

and I prefer it to that shown in Fig. 5'

where the steam generator is used solely as a means of supplying steamto heat radiating devices of the character shown.

In the system shown in Fig. 6 the supply of fuel to the main burner A isof course regulated by the amount of water passing into the generator;at the same time the amount of water passing into the generator at anyinstant is directly equal to the amount of water of condensationescaping from the radiator or radiators at that time, and consequentlyis directly equal to the.demand for fresh steam at that time. a

It is my intention to claim in a separate application certain featuresof novelty relating to the boiler and the means forv regulating andcontrolling the fluid heated in the boiler'and the flow of fuel to theburner therefor which are disclosed but not claimed herein. I

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiator, connections forconveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, other connections forconveying water of condensation formed by the steam passing into theradiator back to the boiler, means for controlling the fiow of steamthrough the radiator, and means for automatically regulating the amountof heat supplied to the.

boiler in response to the volume of the Water of condensation passing tothe boiler. 2.' In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiatorconnections for conveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, othercon nections for conveying water of condensation formed by the steampassing into the radiator back to the boiler, means for controlling theiiow of steam through the radiator, a heater for the boiler, and controlling mechanism therefor, including a thermostatic member thermally actedupon by the water of condensation passing to the boiler and responsiveto the volume of such water passing to the boiler.

3. In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiator, connections forconveying steam from the boiler tdthe radiator, other connections forconveying water of condensation formed by the steam passing into theradiator back to the. boiler, thermostatic means for automaticallycontrolling the flow of steam through the radiator, andjmeans forautomatically regulating the amount of heat supplied to the boiler inresponse to the. volume of the water of condensation passing to theboiler.

4. In a steam heating system, a boiler anda radiator, connections forconveying steamfrom the boiler to the radiator, other connections forconveying water of .condensation formed by the steam passing into theradiator back to the boiler, thermostatic means for automaticallycontrolling the flow of steam through the radiator, a heater for theboiler, and controlling mechanismtherefor, including a thermostaticmember thermally acted upon by the water of condensation passing to theboiler and responsive to the volume of such water passing to the boiler.

5. In a steam heating system, a boiler and a radiator, connections forconveying steam from the boiler to the radiator,'other' connections forconveying the Water of condensation formed by the steam passing into theradiator back to the boiler, a thermostatically actuated valve forautomatically regulating the escape of the heating fluid from theradiator, a fluid fuel burner for heating the boiler, a valvecontrolling the supply of fuel to the burner, and controlling means forthe valve, including a thermostatic member thermally acted upon by theWater of condensation passing to the boiler and directly responsive tothe volume of such Water being passed to the boiler.

6. In a steam heating system, a flash boiler, a radiator having steaminlet and low pressure return pipes, pumping mechanism for maintaininglow pressure in the return pipe ofthe radiator and for returning theWater of condensation formed by the steam passed into the radiator backto the boiler, means for supplying steam from the boiler to the pumpingmechanism to actuate the latter, means for passing the exhaust steamfrom the pumping mechanism into the radiator inlet pipe, meansresponsive to the pressure in the radiator inlet pipe for supplyingsteam from the boiler directly to the radiator inlet pipe but at areduced pressure upon a predetermined fall in said pressure in theradiator inlet pipe, means for heating said boiler, and automaticregulating-means therefor directly responsive to the volume of suchwater being returned to said boiler.

7. In a steam heating system, a flash boiler, a radiator, means forconveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, other connections forconveying the water of con-'- boiler, comprising a thermostatic memberarranged to be acted upon thermally by the Water of condensationpassing'to the boiler,

and means tending to maintain said thermostatic member. at a constanttemperature above that of the temperature of the water offcondensationreturning to the boiler.

8. In a steam heating system, a flash boiler, a radiator, connectionsfor conveying steam from the boiler to the radiator, other connectionsfor conveying the Water of condensation formed by the steam passing intothe radiator back to the boiler, means for controlling the 'flOW ofsteam. threngh the radiator, a main burner for heating said boiler, ailot burner, a valve controlling the supply 0 fuel to the main burnerand thermostatic controlling mechanism -for said valve, comprising anexpansible member arranged to be acted upon thermally by the v Water ofcondensation returning to the boiler and to be heated by said pilotburner.

HARRY G. MALLORY.

Witnesses:

JARED F; Harmon, Jr., O. G. SMITH.

